Financial Aid for College

[Frank Reich II]

What are your views on financial aid?

When I went to college I did not qualify for any financial aid. All I received from the government was about $2,000 per semester in a low-interest loan. This was pretty much usless seeing as how I paid close to $20,000 to go to school per year.

The reason I did not qualify for financial aid is because my parents assets are too high.

well, okay -

But what does that have to do with me? My parents did not pay a dime for my college education. Now I have about $50,000 in student loans to pay back.

How am I any less qualified for a considerable amount of financial aid than those who are the actual recipients?

Seems unfair that just because my parents make money that I (not my parents) get stuck with a larger tuition bill than those students who have parents who do not make as much money.

[Crisco Kid]

What are your views on financial aid?

When I went to college I did not qualify for any financial aid. All I received from the government was about $2,000 per semester in a low-interest loan. This was pretty much usless seeing as how I paid close to $20,000 to go to school per year.

The reason I did not qualify for financial aid is because my parents assets are too high.

well, okay -

But what does that have to do with me? My parents did not pay a dime for my college education. Now I have about $50,000 in student loans to pay back.

How am I any less qualified for a considerable amount of financial aid than those who are the actual recipients?

Seems unfair that just because my parents make money that I (not my parents) get stuck with a larger tuition bill than those students who have parents who do not make as much money.

Life isn't fair!

[Ms.Depew.to.you]

Seems unfair that just because my parents make money that I (not my parents) get stuck with a larger tuition bill than those students who have parents who do not make as much money.

And that's why I moved out when I was 18. Since my parents didn't help I needed to establish that I was on my own so I could get financial aid.

[run4it]

Well, I would say that
1)it's your own fault for going to such an expensive college. I think Buffalo State only costs about $3500 per year (would have been less when you went), so it was your choice to have to pay so much
2)when I went to the financial aid office, I was able to show that my parents didn't contribute, so I was eligible for more. Don't know if it was a difference of institutions, or you just not asking the right questions
3)how is it not the responsibility of the parents, at least to a greater extent than the state, to help educate the children (when they are able)?
3)seriously? Class envy from the top down? rare.... Go ahead and claim that higher economic classes are, on the whole, undepriveleged.....

[Frank Reich II]

Life isn't fair!

Then why is there a double standard? Why not tell the people from low-income families that life isn't fair and NOT give them full rides to college as well?

[run4it]

Wow...3 smackdowns inside of 15 minutes. Guy's not getting too far with his pity party, is he?

[Crisco Kid]

Then why is there a double standard? Why not tell the people from low-income families that life isn't fair and NOT give them full rides to college as well?

. . . liberal elected officials here in NY and those in DC have to answer.

[run4it]

Then why is there a double standard? Why not tell the people from low-income families that life isn't fair and NOT give them full rides to college as well?

Because we, as a society, have decided that one of the best ways to help lower classes permanently remove themselves from poverty and paycheck-to-paycheck living is to increase access to education. It's a gesture we make to ending the poverty cycle. It's the suggestion that maybe we have a public interest in growing and realizing the potential of all members of society, as opposed to just the moneyed elite.

[Frank Reich II]

Well, I would say that
1)it's your own fault for going to such an expensive college. I think Buffalo State only costs about $3500 per year (would have been less when you went), so it was your choice to have to pay so much
2)when I went to the financial aid office, I was able to show that my parents didn't contribute, so I was eligible for more. Don't know if it was a difference of institutions, or you just not asking the right questions
3)how is it not the responsibility of the parents, at least to a greater extent than the state, to help educate the children (when they are able)?
3)seriously? Class envy from the top down? rare.... Go ahead and claim that higher economic classes are, on the whole, undepriveleged.....

1.) I went to a public SUNY school. I chose to go to a school that ranked very high in the degree field I wanted. I feel it better prepared me to hold the job I have today, which has made me able to make my loan payments each month.

2.) Trust me - I tried everything, every loophole etc.

3.) They provided for me from the time I born until I graduated high school. I think that was enough. To this day I still do not think my parents had any type of responsibility to pay my college tuition.

(your second 3, technically 4): I am not saying higher economic classes are underpriveledged. I am saying that there should be some other factor to determine the amount of financial aid a student receives.

[PaulJonson]

Because we, as a society, have decided that one of the best ways to help lower classes permanently remove themselves from poverty and paycheck-to-paycheck living is to increase access to education. It's a gesture we make to ending the poverty cycle. It's the suggestion that maybe we have a public interest in growing and realizing the potential of all members of society, as opposed to just the moneyed elite.

How has this worked out over the years?

[run4it]

How has this worked out over the years?

I don't know. I suppose we could comb through the rolls of underpriveleged people who have gone to college on needs-based scholarships and made good for themselves....but I don't have time for that. You could probably ask Buff State or UB for their alumni rolls if you want...

But considering the wide disparity of incomes between those with and those without college degrees, it'll be tough to argue that being able to go to college hasn't helped most people who qualified for low income assistance.

[crabapples]

Frank,

Sounds like you are a member of the often slighted middle class, like myself. My guess is you are:

A white male (Strike One)
From a family with two working parents (Strike Two)

I belive Run4It is completely wrong with his outlook. I would bet that most Americans are not for giving people handouts (including some of the poorer people.) The only reason we have this inequity is due to reverse discrimination. Schools look at race and money before all else. The deciding factors should be grades and a desire to earn a college diploma.

Also, Run4It says that going to Buffalo State would have been cheaper than the $50,000 you shelled out to go wherever you went. Consider this: 8 semesters x $3500 per semester equals $28,000. Then add in a good $300 for books per semester and you are talking $30,400. My guess is you dormed, so that made up the remaining amount of money you took out in a loan.

Now you could have lived off campus, but then you would have had rent, utilities, groceries, car costs and gas for commuting. $50,000 for a 4 year degree is probably a steal! But if the Government is offering people deals on education it should be offered to everyone not just a select few.

I went to Buff State. Saw many people abuse the system because they could. Same with the welfare system. Had a roommate who was pregnant and she milked the system for as long as she could. When she was almost done with the benefits from her first child, she had a second one to maintain her benes. All the while not working eventhough she has a degree that she could get hired anywhere in the U.S. at a very good salary and benefits.

[Frank Reich II]

I just think there needs to be consistency.

Person A.) Parents cannot afford to pay for child's college.

result: free education from Uncle sam

Person B.) Parents can afford to pay for child's education, but think that it is their child's responsbility to pay.

result: no help from Uncle Sam, thousands of dollars in student loan debt.

it's hypocritical.

[run4it]

the often slighted middle class,

That's a pretty damn funny phrase!

Sucks when you're able to have food on the table every night, a quiet place to do your school work, and (probably) family support. yeah...sucks real bad, don't it (I'm in the "slighted middle class myself", by the way)

You're honestly going to argue that education isn't a valuable resource when trying to work your way up in the world? crazy man... Even if you don't believe that, I hate to tell you that the rest of society does. THAT'S WHY SUCH PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN LEGISLATED INTO PLACE!

By the way, Buff State, right now, costs about $2,500 per semester, including fees. It was less when I went there, just 3 years ago. So no, you're not going to convince me that actual college costs will run 150% more than that throughout a semester.

You think the only reason that we have inequality is reverse discrimination? How about 300 years of civil and economic repression, based on race? How about financial and credit systems specifically designed to disenfranchise the poor? How about money=access=representation in politics?

[run4it]

I just think there needs to be consistency.

Person A.) Parents cannot afford to pay for child's college.

result: free education from Uncle sam

Person B.) Parents can afford to pay for child's education, but think that it is their child's responsbility to pay.

result: no help from Uncle Sam, thousands of dollars in student loan debt.

it's hypocritical.

Again, how is it the public's responsibility to educate you when your own family has the means to, regardless of your family's respective feelings on the subject?

And you honestly think that even poor students don't have student loans? Think again, friend...and then have a conversation with my wife!